| Used for
| Amount | Why |
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Congestive Heart Failure | 850 to 882 mg per day
|  [3 stars] In a double-blind study of people with chronic heart failure, a combination of EPA and DHA for four years resulted in a small but statistically significant protection against death or hospitalization for cardiovascular reasons.
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High Triglycerides | 3,000 mg daily omega-3 fatty acids | [3 stars] Many double-blind trials have shown that fish oil containing EPA and DHA lowers triglycerides levels. |
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Hypertension | 2 grams of combined EPA and DHA daily | [3 stars] EPA and DHA, the omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil, have been shown to lower blood pressure. |
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Lupus | Up to 20 grams fish oil per day after consultation with a doctor
| [3 stars] Supplementing with fish oil may improve symptoms and decrease disease activity.
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Rheumatoid Arthritis | 3 grams daily of EPA plus DHA | [3 stars] Fish oil has anti-inflammatory effect and may help reduce pain. Many trials have proven that omega-3 fatty acids in fish oil partially relieve symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. |
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Angina | Consult a doctor
|  [2 stars] Fish oil has been shown to reduce chest pain and the need for nitroglycerin. Taking vitamin E with fish oil may protect the oil from undergoing potentially damaging oxidation in the body. |
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Anxiety | 3 grams per day
| [2 stars] In a double-blind trial, fish oil was significantly more effective than a placebo in improving anxiety levels for substance abusers.
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Asthma | Consult a doctor
| [2 stars] Research shows that fish oil partially reduces reactions to allergens that can trigger asthma attacks. It has also been shown in one study to prevent exercise-induced asthma attacks. |
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Atherosclerosis | 3 to 6 grams fish oil daily, containing at least 30% omega-3 fatty acids
| [2 stars] Fish oil may reduce risk factors for atherosclerosis and heart disease. One trial showed that people who took fish oil had a slowing of the progression of their arterial plaque and had a decrease in cardiovascular events such as heart attack and stroke.
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Bipolar Disorder | Daily omega-3 fatty acids: 9.6 grams for adults, 1,290 to 4,300 mg for children
| [2 stars] People with depression may have lower blood levels of omega-3s. Taking fish oil, in addition to prescribed medication, improved symptoms in one study.
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Breast-Feeding Support | Consult a qualified healthcare practitioner | [2 stars] Studies have shown that higher breast milk concentrations of DHA (an omega-3 fatty acid present in fish oil) are associated with better visual acuity in infants.
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Cardiac Arrhythmia | Do not take, or take only with a doctor's supervision, if there is a history of sustained ventricular tachycardia or ventricular fibrillation | [2 stars] Fish oil has been shown to reduce the frequency of abnormal heartbeats in some trials. |
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Crohn’s Disease | 2.7 grams daily omega-3 fatty acids in enteric-coated capsules
| [2 stars] Fish oil helps relieve the inflammation of the gut that occurs in people suffering from Crohn’s disease.
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Cystic Fibrosis | 2.7 grams of EPA daily | [2 stars] The impaired fat digestion in people with cystic fibrosis often leads to a deficiency of essential fatty acids, which may lead to increased risk of respiratory infection. This deficiency may be reversed by fish oil supplementation. |
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Depression | 9.6 grams omega-3 fatty acids per day | [2 stars] Depressed people have been reported to have low amounts of omega-3 fatty acids. Taking fish oil can replenish stores and stave off depression. |
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Dysmenorrhea | Refer to label instructions
| [2 stars] A fish oil supplement containing EPA and DHA may help prevent menstrual syndromes. |
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Eczema | Adults: 1,800 mg a day of EPA; children: proportionately less, according to body weight | [2 stars] Supplementing with fish oil can supply anti-inflammatory fatty acids that are missing in many people with eczema. |
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Epilepsy | 3.25 grams daily of omega-3 fatty acids | [2 stars] In one study, supplementing with a mixture of omega-3 fatty acids (primarily EPA and DHA, found in fish oil) reduced the frequency of seizures in some epileptic patients. |
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Heart Attack | 850 to, 1700 mg omega-3 fatty acids | [2 stars] Supplementing with fish oil may reduce the chances of having another heart attack. |
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Immune Function and Critically Ill Patients | Consult a qualified healthcare practitioner | [2 stars] For critically ill and hospitalized patients, supplementing with fish oil appears to increase immune function. |
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Immune Function and Post-Surgery Patients | Refer to label instructions
| [2 stars] Most studies have reported that supplementing with omega-3s increases immune function in hospitalized post-surgery patients. |
Intermittent Claudication
(Alpha-Linolenic Acid, Folic Acid, Oleic Acid, Vitamin B6, Vitamin E) | 200 mg of EPA and 130 mg of DHA daily, plus small amounts of vitamin B6, folic acid, vitamin E, oleic acid, and alpha-linolenic acid | [2 stars] In one study, men with intermittent claudication who drank a milk product fortified with fish oil, vitamin B6, folic acid, vitamin E, oleic acid, and alpha-linolenic acid could walk further without pain than those who drank regular milk. |
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Macular Degeneration
(Acetyl-L-Carnitine, Coenzyme Q10) | Follow label directions | [2 stars] In one study, supplementing with a proprietary blend of acetyl-L-carnitine, fish oil, and coenzyme Q10 improved visual function in people with macular degeneration. |
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Multiple Sclerosis | 6 to 20 grams daily | [2 stars] Several studies have shown fish oil to help reduce urinary incontinence, improve eyesight, and reduce relapse rate in people with relapsing-remitting MS. |
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Obesity | Around 2,000 mg of combined EPA and DHA per day | [2 stars] Fish oil and its fatty acids, EPA and DHA, may support health metabolism in people with overweight and obesity. |
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Osteoporosis
(Evening Primrose Oil) | 6 grams daily | [2 stars] Fish oil combined with evening primrose oil (EPO) may improve calcium absorption and promote bone formation. |
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Phenylketonuria | 125 mg of oil or 15 mg of docosahexaenoic acid per 2.2 lbs (1 kg) of body weight daily | [2 stars] The PKU diet is low in fatty acids, some of which are essential for proper brain development. Supplementing with fish oil may improve the deficiency. |
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Pre- and Post-Surgery Health | 3.3 to 5 grams daily omega-3 fatty acids before and after surgery | [2 stars] Omega-3 fatty acids, found in fish oil, have anti-inflammatory properties and may improve recovery and prevent infection after surgery. |
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Pregnancy and Postpartum Support | 2.7 to 6.1 mg daily of omega-3 fatty acids (EPA plus DHA) | [2 stars] Supplementing with fish oil (providing the omega-3 fatty acids EPA and DHA) significantly reduced recurrence of premature delivery, according to one analysis. |
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Pregnancy and Prenatal Growth | Refer to label instructions
| [2 stars] The DHA found in fish oil is essential for the development of the visual system in infants.
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Psoriasis | Take orally 10 grams daily oil or 3.6 grams daily EPA, or apply a 10% topical solution twice per day | [2 stars] Fish oil has been found to reduce the severity of psoriasis and improve skin lesions. It also may help prevent increased triglyceride levels that result from certain psoriasis drugs. |
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Raynaud’s Disease | 4 grams of EPA per day | [2 stars] Supplementing with fish oil may reduce the severity of blood-vessel spasm. |
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Schizophrenia | 2,000 to 3,000 mg daily of EPA | [2 stars] Omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids appear to be deficient or improperly used in people with schizophrenia. Supplementing with fish oil may correct an imbalance and improve symptoms. |
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Sickle Cell Anemia | 250 mg of oil per 2.2 lbs (1 kg) of body weight daily | [2 stars] Supplementing with fish oil appears to reduce the frequency of severe pain episodes. |
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Tooth Decay | 3 tsp per day of cod liver oil | [2 stars] One trial showed that children given cod liver oil for an entire school year had over 50% fewer new cavities. |
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Type 1 Diabetes | 1,000 mg combined omega-3 fatty acids from fish, or 660 mg EPA alone, daily | [2 stars] Fish oil and its omega-3 fatty acid EPA may improve blood sugar control and help prevent complications of type 1 diabetes. |
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Ulcerative Colitis | 5.4 grams daily of omega-3 fatty acids | [2 stars] Supplementing with fish oil may help reduce inflammation and prevent relapses. |
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Alzheimer’s Disease | Refer to label instructions
|  [1 star] Fish oil may help slow the rate of cognitive decline in people with very mild impairment.
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Chronic Fatigue Syndrome | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] In one study, patients with chronic fatigue syndrome reported an improvement in their symptoms after taking a supplement containing the essential fatty acids EPA and DHA. |
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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] The omega-3 fatty acids found in fish oil have been linked to reduced risk of COPD. |
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Colon Cancer | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Several studies have found that supplementing with fish oil reduces markers for colon cancer risk. |
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Endometriosis | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Fish oil may reduce the severity of endometriosis, and it has been shown to improve symptoms of dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation), which may be caused by endometriosis. |
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Glaucoma | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Inuit people, who eat large amounts of omega-3 fatty acids, appear to have a much lower incidence of glaucoma than do Caucasians. One study found that cod liver oil (a rich source of omega-3 fatty acids) reduced intraocular pressure in animals. |
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Macular Degeneration | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] A diet high in omega-3 fatty acids, especially from fish, has been associated with lower risks of age-related macular degeneration.
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Migraine Headache | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Fish oil containing EPA and DHA has been reported to reduce migraine headache symptoms. Fish oil may help because of its effects in modifying hormone-like substances called prostaglandins. |
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Osteoarthritis | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] The omega-3 fatty acids present in fish oil, EPA and DHA, have anti-inflammatory effects and may relieve pain. |
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Osteoporosis | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Supplementing with fish oil may improve calcium absorption and promote bone formation. |
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Photosensitivity | redundant | [1 star] In one trial, supplementing with fish oil reduced photosensitivity in 90% of people suffering from polymorphous light eruptions. |
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Preeclampsia | Refer to label instructions
| [1 star] Fish oil supplementation may lower the incidence of preeclampsia. |
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Type 2 Diabetes | 6 grams (about 1.25 teaspoons) of fish oil, providing approximately 2,000 mg of combined EPA and DHA, daily | [1 star] Supplementing with fish oil can reduce inflammation and may lower triglyceride and cholesterol levels in people with type 2 diabetes. |
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